Only Delta and San Juan counties have avoided the disaster of Colorado’s drought, according to a federal declaration Tuesday that includes 62 of the state’s 64 counties.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack notified Gov. John Hickenlooper that farmers and ranchers in parched counties are qualified for federal emergency loans, based on the extent of their individual losses.

“We are very grateful for Secretary Vilsack’s speedy review of our request,” Hickenlooper said in a statement. “This federal disaster declaration will give farmers and ranchers in Weld County and nearly every other part of the state much-needed relief.”

Those in eligible counties have eight months from Tuesday to apply for aid.

The governor, the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the local USDA Farm Service Agency office worked together to attain the disaster designations.

Colorado’s relentless drought began with a weak snowpack that drove river basins across the state into single-digit percentages of their 30-year averages this spring.

Since then, much of the state has continued to wither under some of the hottest and driest conditions on record, feeding the worst wildfire season in a decade this year.

The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map places all of Colorado in “severe” or “extreme” drought classifications.

Tuesday foresters at Colorado State University said the prolonged drought is stressing mountain and urban trees, as well as other landscapes.

They urged homeowners to tend to their trees.

“Adequately watering your trees is the best way to ensure optimum growth and vigor during the summer months,” Keith Wood, community forestry program manager for the Colorado State Forest Service, stated.”Dry trees become susceptible to root and branch die-back and subsequent insect and disease problems.”

Fore more information about caring for trees during the drought, visit csfs.colostate.edu.

Eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 were closed Saturday afternoon at Georgetown due to a semitrailer fire, the Colorado Department of Transportation tweeted. The right lane remains closed, while the other lanes have since reopened. Drivers can expect heavy delays, transportation officials said. The fire initially closed both sides of the interstate as smoked crossed the highway. The load on the...